Chattahoochee animal clinic monthly specials

This week's case of the week was fun for everyone.

A new client came in with their 3 pound yorkie, Layla, that had a rather large foreign body in her intestinal tract…. the size of an avocado! She had been seen by her regular pet store veterinarian and by a local specialist. Both veterinarians had correctly diagnosed and advised exploratory surgery with treatment plan estimates from $3000 to $5000. Unfortunately, that was not within the client's budget. After revisiting the X-rays and history, we decided to think out of the box, so we could save Layla.

We gave Layla several large doses of a mild cat hair ball lubricant orally and fluids under her skin, in order to lubricate and soften the obstruction. Then we gave her a short acting reversible anesthetic so Dr. Andy could softly and slowly break up the obstruction with his hands..outside her belly. Within 15 minutes the avocado sized mass was broken down into a thin green bean size. Layla's anesthesia was reversed, she went home happy, and the obstructive material was passed after a day of high fiber food. It was a win-win for everyone and cost the young couple 10% of what a surgery would have cost.